Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in India
India: Number of maternal deaths (Our World) was 18,688 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of maternal deaths in India, 1985–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of maternal deaths in India is 18,688, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 39 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.5% on the previous year and down 51.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of maternal deaths in India peaked at 179,946 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 18,688, in 2023.
India ranks 2nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 179,946 | — |
| 1986 | 173,637 | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 164,799 | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 157,724 | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 151,595 | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 145,253 | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 140,901 | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 136,598 | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 132,562 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 128,659 | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 124,866 | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 120,872 | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 116,553 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 112,764 | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 108,796 | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 105,471 | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 102,386 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 96,157 | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 90,124 | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 84,576 | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 77,603 | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 71,395 | -8.0% |
| 2007 | 65,609 | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 60,545 | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 55,814 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 50,662 | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 46,265 | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 42,310 | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 38,512 | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 34,298 | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 32,318 | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 30,439 | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 27,650 | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 26,345 | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 24,379 | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 23,610 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 36,102 | +52.9% |
| 2022 | 20,875 | -42.2% |
| 2023 | 18,688 | -10.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 18,688 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 456.54, 40.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 18,688 is above the median for South Asia, which is 437.45, 42.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of maternal deaths (Our World) in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +52.9% | 23,610 | 36,102 |
| 2022 | -42.2% | 36,102 | 20,875 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 165,540 | 151,595 | 179,946 | 5 |
| 1990s | 126,782 | 108,796 | 145,253 | 10 |
| 2000s | 80,968 | 55,814 | 105,471 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,318 | 24,379 | 50,662 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,819 | 18,688 | 36,102 | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of maternal deaths in India?
- Number of maternal deaths in India was 18,688 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of maternal deaths recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 179,946 in 1985.
- What is the lowest number of maternal deaths recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,688 in 2023.
- How does India rank for number of maternal deaths?
- India ranks 2nd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of maternal deaths rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of maternal deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).